Troutbitten

Over the last few decades, fishing apparel has undergone a dramatic evolution. Today, we expect more than ever from our boots, waders, jackets, and shirts because we've grown accustomed to the advantages of purpose-built gear that's ready to deliver.

Comfort, support and durability are the hallmarks of great fishing gear. So I sat down with Kevin Sloan, the founder of Skwala fishing, for a look at where the industry stands now, a look back at where we were and a forward look at where we're going.

It was a fun conversation full of in-depth technical specifics on why and how good designs last. Kevin also has a lifetime of fishing stories to share.
Resources
READ: Troutbitten | All the Things
READ: Troutbitten | 100 Day Gear Review - Skwala RS Wading Boots
READ: Troutbitten | Critical Wader Care - Advice from the Companies Themselves - How to Wash and Dry Your Waders
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Troutbitten Website

Troutbitten Instagram

Troutbitten YouTube

Troutbitten Facebook
Thanks to TroutRoutes:
Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership at
https://maps.troutroutes.com
Thanks to Skwala
Use the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order at
https://skwalafishing.com/

We’re here to talk about fishing angles. Are you wading upstream or down? And are you casting upstream or down? What’s your preference? Why do you make that decision? When, if ever does it change? And does your casting direction always follow your wading direction?
Sometimes, these preferences seem regional, while other times it’s specifically about the tactic -- meaning that swinging wet flies, for example, suits a downstream approach best. But sometimes, angle choice seems more like tradition, and many anglers simply fish a certain way because their Dad did.
Most of us at Troutbitten look at things objectively. We all went through a period of time where we tore everything down that we thought we knew and rebuilt the database from the ground up. We want to know what really works best.
My good friends Matt Grobe and Bill Dell join me to answer these questions.
Resources
READ: Troutbitten | The Downstream Fisher Yields to the Upstream Fisher
VIDEO: Troutbitten | Riverside: Fishing Direction - Should You Work Upstream or Downstream?
READ: Troutbitten | Face Upstream, Fish Upstream
READ: Troutbitten | The Advantages of Working Upstream

Visit

Troutbitten Website

Troutbitten Instagram

Troutbitten YouTube

Troutbitten Facebook
Thanks to TroutRoutes:
Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership at
https://maps.troutroutes.com
Thanks to Skwala
Use the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order at
https://skwalafishing.com/

What’s the nymph really doing under there? How is it affected by the currents? And is the attached tippet dragging the fly unnaturally across, over, up or out of the natural, one-seam drift that our picky trout are waiting for?
The challenge of nymphing is mercifully balanced by the frequency at which trout feed on these bottom dwelling food forms. So even if we get one in ten drifts just right, the rate at which we might fool fish makes this maddening quest for perfection more than worth it. Simply put, nymphing is fun because it works — and because there’s always a way to make it work even better.
Our nymphs require weight to get under the surface and down to the trout. And “how much weight” is a fundamental consideration — perhaps the primary factor — toward the goal of drifting nymphs naturally.
If you’re into anything long enough, you’ll notice the trends. And you can watch dogged convictions shift, en masse. In an industry as niche as fly fishing for trout, the opinions of just a few influential anglers often shape the next metamorphosis. So it is with the nymphing game, as the current trend for lighter flies and lighter tackle has taken a strong foothold. But just a few years ago, the concept of anchor flies was driving weighty considerations in the opposite direction. (Just as many trout found the net, by the way.)
As with most things, real success with nymphs lies somewhere toward the middle of these extremes, and persistent success comes from a combination of both.

Resources
Here's the full article:
READ: Troutbitten | Are Light Nymphs More Effective? Is Less Weight More Natural?
Here are supporting articles:
READ: Troutbitten Drifting Light Nymphs
READ: Troutbitten | Over or Under -- Your Best Bet On Weight
READ: Troutbitten | Leading vs Tracking vs Guiding the Flies
Visit

Troutbitten Website

Troutbitten Instagram

Troutbitten YouTube

Troutbitten Facebook
Thanks to TroutRoutes:
Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership at
https://maps.troutroutes.com
Thanks to Skwala
Use the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order at
https://skwalafishing.com/

For our Season 19 Intermission, my wife, Becky, joins me to check in on what's going on in the Troutbitten world. We talk about the upcoming leader sale in the Troutbitten Shop (May 24th), the Troutbitten Film Festival, guide season, changes to the Troutbitten Beer with New Trail Brewing Company and the Mono Rig book status. Then my son, Aiden, joins me for a short conversation about spring fishing.
Resources
VIDEOS: Troutbitten | Fish and Film | Category
SHOP: Troutbitten | Category | Leaders
Visit

Troutbitten Website

Troutbitten Instagram

Troutbitten YouTube

Troutbitten Facebook
Thanks to TroutRoutes:
Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership at
https://maps.troutroutes.com
Thanks to Skwala
Use the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order at
https://skwalafishing.com/

There’s something about fishing that leads us to believe that we can figure out what the fish want to eat that day — at that moment. Really, we want to believe that. And maybe it’s true often enough that trying to figure ‘em out . . . is a smart strategy.

But I’m sure you’ve also had the experience of getting back to camp and every one of your friends all caught fish — but they all caught them on different flies and different water types. And you’ve definitely met the guy in the parking lot who’s positive that he has the answer for catching fish that evening. And maybe he’s so sure of it that he’ll make it work, just because he’ll fish it so hard.
Is there really anything to figure out?

That’s our topic for this episode. We work around the ins and outs of when, why, where and how chasing that goal of figuring things out makes any sense.

My good friends Matt Grobe, Josh Darling and Bill Dell join me for this one.

Resources
READ: Troutbitten | Pattern vs Presentation - Trout Eat Anything, But Sometimes They Eat Another Thing Better
READ: Troutbitten | It's Not Luck
READ: Troutbitten | Asking the Best Questions to Catch More Trout
Visit

Troutbitten Website

Troutbitten Instagram

Troutbitten YouTube

Troutbitten Facebook
Thanks to TroutRoutes:
Use the code TROUTBITTEN for 20% off your membership at
https://maps.troutroutes.com
Thanks to Skwala
Use the code, TROUTBITTEN10 for 10% off your order at
https://skwalafishing.com/